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Towns: Woodbury

Woodbury is truly “a city you can grow with.” This historic city is a great place to live, visit and own a business. They offer a unique blend of Victorian homes, natural parks, beautiful waterways and recreational facilities, making this city one of Southern New Jersey’s hidden gems. The city is home to Underwood Memorial Hospital (Gloucester County’s largest employer), Woodbury Country Club, The Gloucester County Times, and many fine eateries and restaurants.

For more than two centuries, the city has served as the county seat of Gloucester County, New Jersey. Since its incorporation in 1854, it has become a legal, medical, transportation and government hub for the region. In the words of Woodbury’s mayor, “Woodbury’s residents cherish the friendliness and security of living in neighborhoods where folks know and look out for each other. A mix of ages, interests and income levels lends vitality to this city.”

Woodbury is rich in history. The City of Woodbury, one of the oldest “small cities” in the United States, had its beginning in 1683 when Henry Wood, a Quaker from Bury, England, settled here. By 1715, Woodbury had become a Quaker religious center and was a thriving hamlet at the onset of the American Revolution. Given their close proximity to Philadelphia, Woodbury had a significant place in the history of our nation’s birth. The Red Bank Battlefield, and Fort Mercer, is where in 1777 six hundred determined Americans defeated a Hessian force of six thousand. This historic area lies just two miles west of Woodbury. The famous British General Lord Cornwallis, who would later surrender to George Washington at Yorktown, had his headquarters in Woodbury during his advance to capture the City of Philadelphia in 1777. By the mid-nineteenth century, Woodbury had grown considerably and was incorporated as a City in 1854. The City of Woodbury enjoyed its greatest economic and population growth between 1880 and 1900. This was accomplished in large part as a result of the Green family and their patent medicine industry. The County continues to this day to develop its operational base throughout the City of Woodbury. Recently, Woodbury has also begun to experience a commercial rebirth owing greatly to the efforts of Woodbury Main Street Inc.

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Woodbury has a lot to offer visitors and residents alike. They are the central business district of Gloucester County’s metropolitan area and host of over 20,000 professional employees daily. There is a lot of activity in Woodbury; in fact they have a drive-through exposure of 25,000 cars daily. People love Woodbury because it has a rich history and many small city amenities such as fine eateries, restaurants, historic sites, natural parks, waterways, beautiful architecture and recreational facilities.

If you’re looking for recreation and parks, you’ll find both in Woodbury. Recreation activities abound in Woodbury. Kids can participate in scouting, sports, summer camp, summer reading program, and Arts in the Streets (a free instruction program for children seven to 12 years old). They can also attend movie nights, block parties and holiday craft sessions sponsored by the Community Policing Center. Everyone can attend the Spring Craft Fair, Main Street Lunch Munch, various holiday parades, Woodbury Car Show, Comcast Cable’s Colonial Day, the Walking Ghost Tour and Candlelight Shopping. The City boasts more than a dozen public parks, a weekly Farmer’s Market (May – November) and the new Community Garden--prepared garden plots where residents can plant flowers, vegetables and herbs. For more details on the various city parks, call (856) 853-0892 x 208.

A list of their parks and locations is as follows:

Bell LakePark - Located at South Girard St. and Myrtle Ave. -This park provides a nice setting for passive recreation such as fishing, picnicking, reading, sunbathing or simply relaxing. This park is also an ideal setting for outdoor weddings or photographs after a wedding as the park offers a lake with a fountain and footbridges.

Woodbury Creek Park - Located at the foot of Wood St. - This park is ideal for such activities as canoeing, fishing and hiking along the Woodbury Creek. This park also has a footbridge that connects it to Cap Paine Park.

Cap Paine Park - Located at Frances Ave. - This park is home to the Woodbury Little League and the Woodbury High School Varsity Baseball and Softball Teams. This park features five little league fields, one T-ball field, a picnic pavilion, and a tot lot for children between the ages of two and five.

Broad St. Lake - This park is adjacent to the Woodbury Police Station on N. Broad St. It is ideal for fishing and is a favorite location for remote-control boat enthusiasts.

Green St. Playground - Located at Green St. and Dare St. -This park offers a small playground for children between the ages of two and five.

Evergreen Ave. Lake - Located at North Evergreen behind Evergreen Square ShoppingCenter - This park is part of the Woodbury Lake System and offers an ideal setting for fishing.

David A. Laverty Sr. Sports Complex-Stewart Park - Located on East Red Bank Ave. adjacent to the YMCA - This park offers a baseball field that is home to the Woodbury High School Junior Varsity Baseball team and a football field home to the Woodbury Steelers youth football league. There is also a boat ramp that provides access to Cooper St. Lake, Evergreen Ave. lake, Hunter St. Lake and Broad St. Lake. This park will undergo renovations during the summer/fall of 2005 and spring/summer of 2006. The renovations will provide the following new amenities in 2006: playground, baseball field, combination football/soccer field, skateboarding area, nature trail and boat ramp. This park has an existing picnic area.

Cooper St. Lake-Stewart Park - Located on Cooper St. at the City line - This park provides fishing and is an ideal location for scenic walks along the lake as well as observing wildlife.

Hendrickson Park - Located at S. Evergreen Ave. and Cooper St. -This park is home to the City’s WWII memorial and the Police memorial. This park also features a small arboretum.

Summer programs for kids are interesting and fun. One program unique to Woodbury is their Art in the Street program. “Art in the Street” is a free outdoor art instruction program for children ages 7 to 12. Woodbury artist Narcissa Weatherbee will provide sixteen art lessons, lasting two hours each, and will provide all supplies and materials. The program will move to eight different neighborhoods throughout the City. Woodbury’s Public Works Department erects a large canopy, with tables and chairs, at each location. Starting on Monday July 11 and concluding on August 17, children will work with clay, paints, wood, windsocks, puppets, masks, and many other materials to create both “take home” projects and some public art. On the final day of the program, students are encouraged to bring their works to display at an Art Festival held at Rotary Park. “Art in the Street” locations for summer 2005 are as follows:
July 11, 12 – Walnut Street School
July 13 – Green Street Park
July 18, 19, 20 – Lakeside Apts.
July 25, 26 – Bell Lake Apts.
Aug. 1, 2, 3 – Sketch Club
Aug. 8, 9 – Veteran’s Plaza on Broad Street
Aug. 15, 16 – Railroad Avenue parking lot at Hopkins Street
Aug. 17 – Rotary Park
For more information call (856) 845-1300, x 123.

Other youth activities and recreational programs include the following: Youth Basketball, Boy Scouts, City Summer Camp, Community Policing, Girl Scouts of South Jersey Pines, Just for Kids, Little League, Baseball, Softball, T-ball, Midget Football, Soccer, and a “Stay Smart” Summer Reading Program.

You will definitely want to make at least one trip to their Main Street district. Why not join in for one of the following events at Main Street?

On June 5th there is the Annual Block Party Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Come to Historic Downtown Woodbury to celebrate the biggest party of the year! Visit Woodbury’s website for additional information. That same day will be the 11th Annual George Benjamin, Jr. and H. Browning Ross Memorial 5K Run & Walk. Application and Information can be found on Woodbury’s website. It will be held on Sunday, June 5, beginning at 9:30am; Broad Street & Barber Avenue (in front of Polsky's Army-Navy Store) After the run, stay for Main Street's Block Party from Noon to 5pm.

The farmers market is now open in Woodbury. The Farmers Market returns for its 3rd season on May 7th with more vendors, live music, and gardening tips presented by the Greater Woodbury Garden Club. Every Saturday through November 19, South Jersey farmers will bring in their fresh, high quality produce and farm related commodities to sell in our charming, open air Farmer’s Market located in the Train Station parking lot, at Cooper Street and Railroad Avenue. Fresh baked goods, gourmet coffees and teas and a variety of other food and helpful garden related products will also be available. Every Saturday customers can enter a free drawing for a "Farmers Market Basket" - loaded with samples from all the vendors. Community Service organizations are invited any Saturday for fundraising activities – to schedule call Cindy Norton at (856) 384-9918. The Framers Market site is easily accessible for customers and offers plenty of free parking and close proximity to downtown Woodbury shopping. The Woodbury Farmer’s Market was established to support southern New Jersey farmers and to attract business activity to downtown Woodbury. A committee of volunteers operates the Woodbury Farmer’s Market. For more information about the Market, or to serve on the Committee, please contact Virginia Horn at 856-845-1300, x 123 or at vhorn@woodbury.nj.us.

The Jaycees 4th of July Program and Fireworks will be Monday, July 4th, beginning with a program at 6pm, followed by fireworks at dusk at the Francis Avenue & Red Bank Avenue recreation area. Rain date is Sunday, July 10.

The Gloucester County 4-H Fair and the New Jersey Peach Festival will be held on Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds, Rte. 77 Mullica Hill July 28-31. Festival hours will be, Th. - Sat. 9am-10pm, Sun. 10am- 5pm. Call (856) 307-6450 x 3 for more information. The Gloucester County 4-H Fair & New Jersey Peach Festival features fun for the whole family...amusement rides, horse shows, magicians, musical acts, 4-H exhibits, craft show, karaoke, farm variety show, tractor pull, reptiles, exotic birds, rabbit shows, dog shows, livestock shows, peach treats, Miss Peach contest, barbecue dinners, team penning...fun for everyone!

The 18th annual Woodbury Car Show will be Saturday, September 3, 10am-3pm. Over 100 cars on display, sponsored by Merchant and Professional Association & Rotary.

Also held in September is the Main Street Comcast Cable's Colonial Day Saturday, September 24, 11am-4pm. Experience olde Woodbury with Colonial costumes, crafts, trolley tours and food.

Coming in October is the Jaycees Fall Festival Craft Show & Parade Saturday, October 1, 9am-3pm. Crafters line Broad Street. Parade begins at 6:30pm.

Other October events include: 7th Annual Main Street Golf Outing, Monday, October 10, 1pm t-time, Woodbury Country Club. The Main Street Woodbury Walking Ghost Tour Friday, October 21. Time to be announced. Hear ghostly tales of past & present. And the December Candlelight Shopping, Fridays, December 2, 9, & 16, from 6pm-9pm. Welcome Santa on December 4. Enjoy holiday shopping, carolers, carriage rides, and children’s activities.

If you like main street shopping then come to Woodbury’s. They offer unusual and charming stores. Some stores that you may want to check out include the following: African Imports
17 Hopkins Street
(856) 384-6233
Imported gifts and Afro-centric goods!

Art Lounge
101 South Broad Street
(856) 853-8359
Unusual gifts and house wares for your decorating desires.

Bob’s Fireside
252 South Broad Street
(856) 845-2361
More than just fireplaces and accessories, there are antiques, mailboxes, and even old-time signs!

Nut Shop
17 South Broad Street
(856) 848-6874
Home made candy and treats served in a Victorian soda shop setting sure to delight!

Paperback Heaven Book Exchange
43 South Broad Street
www.pbheavenbooks.com
Paperback & Hardback Books, Sales, Trading, Coffee, Relaxation, and More!

Polsky’s Army Navy
164 South Broad Street
(856) 845-4780
A Woodbury tradition for 50 years, Polsky’s carries casual wear for the young and more!

Saloff Jewelers
5 South Broad Street
(856) 845-9030
www.saloffjewelers.com. Saloff Jewelers delivers old-fashioned service you won’t find in the mall!

Woodbury Antique Center
66 South Broad Street
(856) 853-2999
www.woodburyantiquescentre.com
Antiques from any era for the discriminating collector!

Be sure to visit Woodbury’s website before you make your trip out there. They even offer a walking tour, which gives you the history and location of historic places in Woodbury. The walking tour brochure can be downloaded and printed out on Woodbury’s website. Go to http://woodbury.nj.us for more information.

For more South Jersey Town information, visit our South Jersey Town News page.

Author: Margo Harvey

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